House Bill Would Create IP Czar, Bolster Copyright Enforcement

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 6, 2007 - 8:53am.

Washington - A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Wednesday introduced a new bill that would increase civil penalties for copyright infringement, bolster criminal enforcement, and create a new federal agency tasked with copyright protection, CNET News.com reported.

The Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act, or PRO IP Act, was sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Ranking Judiciary Committee Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas), in addition to Reps. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), Tom Feeney (R-Fla.), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Ric Keller (R-Fla.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).

Under the proposed legislation, copyright infringement fines for some offenses would be raised, and the bar that defines what constitutes a repeat offender would be lowered.

Law enforcement would be authorized to seize and auction any computer or network used to facilitate a copyright offense.

The bill would also create a new U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Representative, or USIPER, who would serve as the chief advisor to the president on intellectual property issues, while the Justice Dept. would get a new Intellectual Property Enforcement Division, with an annual budge of $25 million.

"This legislation is an important and necessary step in the fight to maintain our competitive edge in a global marketplace," Rep. Conyers said in a statement.

"By providing additional resources for enforcement of intellectual property, we ensure that innovation and creativity will continue to prosper in our society."

Copyright interests such as the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) praised the bill.

"I believe that the American business community can speak in one voice today in support of these legislative efforts to protect intellectual property," said MPAA chairman Dan Glickman.

"I am pleased to see a concerted effort by Congress to address this growing problem, and the MPAA looks forward to working with congressional leaders in the weeks to come."